Can you still be healthy and eat plant-based traveling? Most definitely!!
The easiest thing to do when traveling especially with little ones is to go through a drive-through. But, that is the worst thing we can do for our health. Fast food is very high in calories with tons of added oils, and not always the best option. I'm not saying you should never eat out again. We should indulge now and then but make sure you are choosing the better fast foods. Several places offer vegan options and healthier choices.
There are a few alternatives to fast food if you are on a quick day trip or you're traveling for your weeks' vacation. It can be simple to eat plant-based with a little bit of preparation. We love to travel so, we've had to master it. The key is to be organized, when you are organized everything will run so much smoother. You have less stress so you can enjoy your travels, by lowering your stress you will also have lower cortisol levels, therefore, aiding in weight loss. So see it’s all a win-win. To help get organized I have a few tips and tricks that you can incorporate.
Make a meal plan
Buy healthy convenient foods
Prep and package as much as you can before you leave home
Overpack if possible
First, start with deciding what you want to eat. I like to incorporate hot meals when we travel. At first, when we started our traveling adventures we always ate cold sandwiches. My girls love pb&j, but even their favorite gets old when you eat it non-stop. My husband hates cold sandwiches, so I had to come up with something that I could make and also a way to heat it. We found this little cook oven and use it every time we go somewhere. Even if we don’t plan on being gone too long. You just never know when you may need more than a little snack. I have several recipes that work great for on-the-road travel, especially with this little oven.
Dining out options for eating plant-based / Vegan/ vegetarian on the road can be difficult. Although, the options are becoming more available daily. You can eat at most restaurants even if they are not plant-based focused, it takes a bit of creativity, but it can be done. Check our HappyCow app that is what we use when we want to eat out.
I want to talk more about eating in, in your car, or wherever you might be staying while you travel. We do most of our traveling in our Hiker trailer, so we have to be creative when cooking and eating on the road.
BREAKFAST IN THE CAR
Many times we have woke up super early to beat the traffic rush. We load up the kids when they are still sleeping and head out. That gives them less awake time in the vehicle because they sleep for a few hours into the drive. Now that they are getting older, it is not easy to load them up while they sleep. There are times we wake up early and just do not feel like eating that early, so we take it on the road. Remember, homemade food is usually better for you than eating out anywhere. Especially when you eliminate added fats and oils. Some of my go-to breakfasts on the road are:
Overnight oats
Breakfast bars
Breakfast burritos
Breakfast Sandwiches
Fresh fruits are a great option, we like apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes. I would limit overconsuming dried fruits. After all, they are easy to overeat because they lack the water that helps fill you up.
We also utilize our portable cooker inside the vehicle to heat your food.
TIME FOR LUNCH / DINNER
Ok, so I must confess. We do eat out sometimes, when we do, I use the Happy Cow app that I mentioned above. It shows restaurants that are nearby that are plant-based / vegan / Vegetarian. This app is very helpful in cities, where there are several different restaurants to choose from. They have ratings, reviews, and customer comments giving you a good idea of the food and atmosphere ratings.
But if you like me, I would prefer to make my food. Maybe it's my OCD tendencies, but I prefer to be the one to prepare food for my family. I know it's cooked and prepared to my standards. Don't get me wrong it's fun to be a "foodie" and eat out at new places. But, I would rather spend my time on the adventure itself than spend my time and money inside a restaurant. But like I said, we all have our interests, and if you're a "foodie" then the Happy Cow app will be your best friend.
I understand that not everyone is interested in having an Overlanding/Camping setup like we currently have. So some of the food items listed may not apply.
If you want something that doesn't have to be warmed or cooked you may like:
Chickpea salad on pita
Salad in a mason jar
Pinwheel wraps
If you would prefer a warm lunch/dinner and are using the in-vehicle warmer these recipes might be more your preference:
Taquitos
Fajita wrap
Lasagna rolls
SNACK TIME
I don't know about you, but my girls and I are snackers.
It's best to snack on fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and that works great when you prep the first day at home, but what if you plan to stay on the road for a day or more? That's right, you end up having soggy veggies, and your fruit turns brown? You do have other options that are better for you, other than stopping in a convenience store, spending large amounts of money on junk food, and then having regret for eating it soon after you eat it. I have created a list of healthy snack foods that I suggest for road trips. We do not always take everything on this list with us, but these foods are nonperishable and easy to divvy out while driving down the road.
Trail mix
Mary's gone crackers
Larbars
Popcorn
Fruit snacks
Vegan Jerkey
Animal crackers
I wouldn't suggest you snack on these snacks all day every day, but when you are in a pinch and traveling they are better than the options you can find in a convenience store. You can always google map your area and look for fresh markets and roadside vegetable/fruit stands. This is the healthiest option because you're buying fresh produce that's in season, and you're also helping support small homesteads like ours.
The options are truly endless when it comes to eating healthy on the road, with a little bit of preparation, you can have a blissful nutritious adventure. You don't want to worry about what food you will be eating you need to focus on the memories that you can be making.
Have fun and safe travels.
~Nikki
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